Plans for Ironwoods advance

The Leawood City Council on Monday gave the go-ahead for architects to redraw proposed renovations at the Ironwoods golf course lodge — at a potential additional cost of $1.1 million.

An expansion would add more than 800 square feet to the lodge at the course.

Council members said they want to examine a bigger lodge because additional space might draw weddings, receptions and bigger tournaments to the space. Those added events might defray the added costs, they said.

“We know the benefits,” said Councilwoman Debra Filla.

The council is now studying options at the lodge ordered more than a year ago. Members want the operation to be as self-sustaining as possible, and refurbishing the lodge is part of that process.

But some council members weren’t sure if the city could come up with the extra $1 million before construction is approved.

“The question is, where do we get the million dollars?” asked Councilman Andrew Osman.

The city’s parks and recreation department may be able to help. It has a contingency fund of $600,000, and part of that fund might be used to supplement the lodge construction fund.

City officials say architects don’t know the cost of the lodge renovations because their plans are only half complete. The plans for the additional renovations are finished, however, and those will total about $1.1 million.

The council wants to take bids on the project next year. Construction would begin in 2016.

The city has tried for years to attract bigger events to the Ironwoods facility, but some larger organizations won’t schedule their tournaments or meetings there because the lodge isn’t big enough. The city assumed oversight of the golf course two years ago and hired private managers to run it.

The council hopes to give its final approval to the lodge upgrade design by next month. The architects are from the firm NSPJ Architects of Leawood.

Also Monday, the council got an overview of the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Program.

Some projects have a committed funding source. They include sewer wastewater pipe replacements over the next five years, curb replacements, street reconstruction, new public restrooms at Ironwoods Park and improvements to 143rd Street from Windsor to Kenneth Road.

The 143rd Street project would upgrade the roadway from two lanes to four and include stoplights, curbs and sidewalks.

Other items on the wish list don’t have funding yet.

They include the Leawood Town Center fire station, a fire department training facility, restrooms at several parks and traffic signals at several intersections.

The council plans to spend $53.3 million between 2013 and 2019 on community improvement projects and upgrades. The federal and state governments will help with some of those costs, leaving Leawood responsible for $46 million.